Upgrade Notification
 

Hi,

Why as an Elite did I not get upgraded for a flight tomorrow (7-12-03) from LAX to EWR that's showing seven empty seats in F (seatmap.com). Previously, westbound (EWR-LAX), I got an e-mail upgrade notification with only three seats showing empty. Of course, I have no trouble with upgrades out of EWR to SJU and vice-versa and I don't fly through IAH because of limited upgrade availability. Seems I'm always standing by for an upgrade out of LAX. Thanks for any insight.

C01403 A5 F0
CO1703 A9 F0
CO16 A6 F0
CO90 A4 F0
CO1803 A9 F6

You did not specify which flight you are on, but unless you are on the red-eye (1803), F seats have not been released for the others, and may well not until you arrive at the airport or even after since people have indicated some issues with the three hour EUA dump.

Continental is hoping to sell all of those A seats. In the case that they do not, they will be released for mileage and elite upgrades.

[This message has been edited by dsimon (edited 07-11-2003).]

It happened to me in June, EWR-SFO on CO. They did not release about 6 or 7 seats in BF on a 757 until about 30 minutes from departure. I asked at my origination point, at the Prez Club and at gate counter and got the same answer: "we'll release as soon as we start bording." Six of us on EUA standby got upgrades and there were 2 seats left open when we pushed back.

Yep, they allwasy DO want to sell those A Transcon seats until the last minute.

BTW, Transcon is nice, same level of service as BF International.

FYI: I'm on 1703. Leaves at 0900 and serves lunch rather than breakfast. I can see CO holding three seats back for possible sale (just good business sense), but eight?

Actually, they have nine seats to sell. Seat 1B shows that it is occupied, but that seat is generally blocked off on seat maps and is held for airport assignment only.

Holding nine seats for sales? Business sense is one plausible reason.

Don't forget that Gordo sez that if goin' FC is really important to you, buy a FC ticket, he's savin' a seat for you. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

Couldn't agree more - if its really that important to you to fly F, buy a F ticket. If not, buy a coach ticket with view of actually flying in coach. If you get upgraded - it'll be a nice suprise.

My observations are similar to the others... on every EWR transcon flight this year, there has been plenty of 1st availability, but only once (on a Friday afternoon EWR-LAX flight) did I get upgraded via EUA. I've had a 100% upgrade rate on all the others, but they wouldn't clear until 30 minutes prior. It was frustrating this week flying HNL-LAX and then having to wait for the LAX-EWR to clear, even as PC agent agreed there were lots of available seats.
Guess they just want that last minute full-fare $$$$.